Decentralisation in Education Systems – Seminar Report

The extent to which national education systems are decentralised clearly affects policy and practice for inclusive education. Decentralisation is a key variable in context analysis and change management at all levels of the education system.

This paper builds on the various discussions held within the Thematic Seminar on Decentralisation in Education Systems, jointly organised by the Icelandic Ministry of Education, Science and Culture and the European Agency, held in Reykjavík in October 2016. The seminar participants were representatives from 29 European countries, along with key decision-makers from national level and local municipalities in Iceland.

The seminar included keynote inputs and workshops. It explored the strengths and challenges of countries' different approaches through discussion around four key topics that arise within decentralisation debates in all countries:

• Governance
• Regional disparity
• Quality assurance
• Data collection

The paper presents the key issues raised by these country examples, in line with discussions around the need to build capacity across and between levels within education systems and the need to examine 'dimensions of decentralisation'.

Download the seminar report below as a PDF in English.